Compassion has a price

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Ellie asked, her face still looked heavy but the aura around her diminished almost like she got rid of the weight hanging on her shoulders.

"I have" Vigil paused, giving one last look around. "I have wasted too much time here when I should have been moving if it wasn't for that damn elder".He clutched his hands while his eyes looked distant.

"Were you going with such a rush?"

"I'm going back to Valthera. To solve unfinished business, the kind that doesn't forgive delay", answered Vigil while slowly approaching the tent entrance.

"Ah, so it's that kind of trip. Should I pack flowers for your grave… or theirs?".

Vigil chuckled lightly, he found it intriguing how the girl quickly changed back to normal, in a way he was happy for the girl but he also felt pity.

"Very funny" said Vigil, "What do you plan on doing from now on?" he coughed a little, an attempt at changing the subject.

Ellie remained silent for a while, she was staring at Vigil, like she almost felt offended with the question.

"Where the hell do you think I'm going? Following you of course", her voice this time was different, it was calm and direct.

"Ellie…" said Vigil with a small sigh. "This path isn't for you. What's waiting in Valthera… it's not something I can let you follow me into." 

His hands were tense. The girl had already suffered too much, and the path he was about to walk down wasn't going to be pretty.

"Don't tell me you've gone soft" Ellie smirked while steeping in closer, her eyes teasing him, "Besides, once I put my head onto something, I'm sure as hell going to follow through".

He was about to answer when Lun interrupted. His voice just like Ellie was serious "Master, please consider Ellie's request. There's only much we can do alone".

Lun flew towards the girl's left shoulder, his eyes shone with brilliance. "And you saw the girl fighting. She can pack a punch".

Vigil remained silent for a short while, his eyes scanning the village from outside the tent, he looked apprehensive. Then with another short breath, he answered, his voice was cold as stone. "Fine" the words were expelled from his mouth.

"But you follow my lead. No heroics, No detours. And the second I say run, you don't argue. You go."

A victorious smirk formed on Ellie's lips "Aw Vigil, you really are going soft" She threw a lightful punch towards his chest.

Vigil caught her wrist before the punch landed, his grip was firm but not harsh. He looked towards her hand and then backed it up with a playful smirk.

"Soft would be letting you hit me" his voice was low. "You slow me down; I leave you behind".

He released her wrist and turned towards the path that led outside of the village, but not before adding "And keep those blades sharp. We sure as hell going to need it".

With that the trio moved, they headed towards the horses who were waiting safely outside, away from the hurricane that struck the settlement. Silence remained and not a single orc dared to show up in their path.

On their way Vigil noticed Ellie locking backwards frequently, almost like she was concerned about something.

Vigil didn't turn. "Do not concern yourself with the villagers, they're as guilty as the elder, if not worse. They saw his crimes and chose to do nothing." His voice was harsh and direct "How many adventurers died because they looked the other way?".

"You're right" she added, her eyes sharp. "They looked at my teacher with contempt when he used his magic to give them water. They even called him a saint, only to carve knives behind his back".

Her laugh was bitter and short. "Funny how gratitude dies when the crisis passes".

Vigil's eyes studied her for a while, and he threw a short smile. It wasn't for sympathy but for recognition. Ellie learned and grew despite the situation she had found herself in.

"Then you know better than most" He answered ." Compassion has a price".

The trio remained silent for the rest of the way until they finally reached their horses. Ellie climbed her horse, and though it took her a few tries, her small stature wasn't really helping her out.

"So," she said as she finally mounted the horse."Where exactly are we going?"

"We ride for the Maw of Vorku"

Ellie's posture stiffened suddenly as her eyes remembered. "My teacher mentioned it once. Called it the land even the gods abandoned it"

Vigil remained serious as he prepared the horse "Then he was being generous". He looked towards Ellie; her hands seemed to tremble a bit with nervousness.

"It's the fastest path to Valthera. If you'd rather turn back, now's the time" Vigil Finished, his eyes giving one final test towards Ellie.

Ellie let out a small sigh and then smirked. "You know, I've always wanted to visit hell".

Vigil answered with a small dangerous smile. "You won't be disappointed".

After the first day of travelling, the terrain grew more and more hostile, the trees were becoming thinner and thinner while the weather was harsher and colder, it carried a weak pungent smell of toxicity.

Ellie wrinkled her nose as they made camp on the third day. "Gosh, you weren't kidding about the smell". She said while poking the fire with a small wooden stick.

Vigil didn't respond, he was focused on skinning a strange six-legged rabbit he found on the way. Lun hovered by, his eyes shining with hunger.

"You're not drinking that are you?" Ellie asked, her voice laced with disgust.

"Not yet," said Vigil as he placed the rabbit above the small campfire. "The corruption here runs deep. Even the animal's taste of it".

Ellie flexed her fingers, she was playing with her mana, it was dancing between her fingers. "Good thing I don't need to eat spells like you need blood".

The energy dissipated as she closed her fist. "Though I wouldn't mind a proper bed".

Lun joined the conversation, his voice playful. "Or trees that look like they want to strangle us."

Vigil stood up almost immediately after, alerting the others with his sudden reaction. His head was turned towards the bushes just a few meters ahead of them.

"We're being watched"

Ellie's scissors were already in her hands before she noticed it. "Any friends of yours?"

"Nothing here has friends". His short sword fully formed on his right hand. "Welcome to hell, Ellie".

Lun stayed close to Ellie; it seemed like the two had grown used to working together ever since they fought their way out of the fortress. Vigil didn't really mind, in fact, he felt a bit of relief, this way he could fully focus on fighting without worrying about her.

After a few seconds, the creature left the bushes and fully revealed itself, it was almost like he knew he was found and yet there he was walking slowly towards them. The creature looked like what it used to be a white tiger. Parts of its body were infected with small purple crystalline shards that seemed to consume him slowly.

Then suddenly the tiger moved. It was fast despite the crystals that protruded from its paws. Ellie tried to react but she was too slow, her needles had missed the tiger completely. The beast moved closely to Ellie's throat, she barely twisted aside, the tiger's claws nicked the air mere inches away.

Vigil lunged forward, closing the distance in mere seconds, he flashed the sword with a downward slash aiming to cut one of the creature's legs, trying to slow it down, but the blade bounced back from the crystalline surface.

Ellie didn't hesitate. While the creature was focused on Vigil, she dashed towards the right and with her scissors, she slashed upwards toward the vulnerable part of normal skin on its chest. But the tiger's ear twitched at the last moment, with a loud roar, it moved mid-motion. Turning what would have been a killing blow into a weak wound, engraved along its ribs.

 Small drops of dark blood started to leap out of the wound.

Following Ellie's attempt Vigil flashed, this time he was aiming for its eyes. One of the few spots that weren't covered with crystalline. The tiger tried to move backwards in an attempt to dodge the blade but it was too late. The tip of the sword managed to graze him and rendering blind.

The beast staggered in pain, and the crystals reacted almost instantly, they pulsed with purple energy that sent small shockwaves through the creature's small body, that dissipated on the wounds as if it was trying to heal it.

Lun suddenly dashed forward; his voice was urgent but his eyes looked confident. "Master! I'm going to try something new, close your eyes!" his whole body was glowing.

Ellie and Vigil barely had time to move before Lun unleashed a blinding flash of light. The tiger looked momentarily stunned. The duo quickly seized the opportunity, Ellie drove her blades deep into the tiger's throat while Vigil followed with his sword piercing deep into the creature's heart.

The tiger let out another roar, though this time weaker, the crystals on its body lost their energy shortly while it collapsed on the ground.

Ellie wiped her scissors clean; her hands were shaking slightly. "Well, that was fun."

Lun flew around the tiger, his eyes filled with concern "If it's getting this bad as we get closer to the mountain, what's waiting for us there?".

"Nothing good".

Ellie let out a small sigh, she flexed her arms trying to release some tension away. "Something tells me that won't be the last nasty surprise".